June 2012

June 26, 2012

“Colorado on Fire: Wildfires burn the state”. This is the top headline on KUSA’s 9news.com today, and just one of many like it being reported by the local and national media.

As a native Coloradan, I have grown accustomed to temperatures that soar into the high 90s and 100s. Usually this kind of heat does not arrive until July or August, so to have this in June is a bit alarming, as is it to have five straight days of 100+ temperatures. We have not had that since 2005. The forecast calls for temperatures to be slightly cooler, but still no moisture.

I have the luxury of writing this blog from an air-conditioned and smoke-free building, and I must admit that I cannot begin to fathom what firefighters are up against. With one step outside, miles away from where the fires are burning, smoke can be smelled and haze can be seen. The heat in Denver is dry, which many say is more tolerable than a humid heat, but at this point humidity would be welcomed.

Suffice it to say, I offer my most sincere gratitude and respect to those fighting these fires. Those who have lost homes in the fires also have my thoughts and prayers with them.

A downed power line sparked a one-acre blaze in southwestern Colorado Monday, threatening homes and prompting evacuations. The Forest Service says the fire is burning on the north side of Cabezon Canyon. The fire was running up the canyon towards the residences Monday afternoon. Pre-evacuation order was given to residents, but firefighters were able to fully supress the fire. The firefighters are in the mop-up stages now.

CR 102 FIRE

The containment of the CR 102 Fire in Elbert County was changed around midnight on Monday from 100 percent contained to 75 percent contained. By Monday afternoon, the fire reached 90 percent containment. The fire has burned 300 acres and caused 100 people to be evacuated. The pre-evacuation order for the town of Elbert was lifted on Monday. The CR 102 Fire broke out Sunday afternoon.

HIGH PARK FIRE

The High Park Fire is now 87,250 acres with only 55 percent containment. The fire started on June 9 around 6 a.m. and is burning approximately 15 miles west of Fort Collins. More than 1,900 personnel are fighting the blaze. On June 11, authorities confirmed 62-year-old Linda Steadman died from the blaze. Search crews found Steadman's remains at her house on Old Flowers Road. Authorities say Steadman received two notification calls. A deputy was on his way to personally warn her, but he was pushed back by flames. Larimer County officials confirm at least 248 homes are destroyed from the High Park Fire. The cause of this fire is lightning.

LAST CHANCE FIRE

A fire burning near the town of Last Chance prompted evacuations and closed a portion of Highway 71. The 44,000-acre fire is 95 percent contained as of Monday night. It forced residents near the town of Last Chance and Woodrow to evacuate. Two homes and three outbuildings have been destroyed.

LITTLE SAND FIRE

The Little Sand Fire is now 22,010 acres with only 29 percent containment. The fire started on May 13 around 4 p.m. and is burning approximately 13 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs. More than 200 personnel are fighting the blaze. No structures have burned or threatening in this blaze. The cause of this fire is lightning.

STATELINE FIRE

The Stateline Fire grew to 350 acres and is at 50 percent containment. The fire started on June 23 and is burning near the Colorado-New Mexico line along U.S. Highway 550. About 140 personnel are fighting the blaze. One home was destroyed by the fire, but no other homes are threatened. It is burning in a very remote area. The fire is considered to be human-caused, but there are no suspects at this time. An information line is now available at 970-799-1179.

TREASURE FIRE

The Treasure Fire is burning 320 acres with only 10 percent containment. The fire started on June 23 at 11:10 a.m. and is burning 5 miles northeast of Leadville. No structures have burned in this blaze. The cause of this fire is human, but it is still under investigation.

WALDO CANYON FIRE

The Waldo Canyon Fire is now 5,165 acres with 5 percent containment. The fire started on June 23 around noon and is burning in Pike National Forest in El Paso County. About 600 personnel are fighting the blaze. One structure has burned in this blaze. The cause of this fire is under investigation.

WEBER FIRE

The Weber Fire is burning more than 8,930 acres. The fire is 15 percent contained. It started on June 22. The fire is burning in Montezuma County just 6 miles south of Mancos and just south of Highway 160. More than 100 homes were evacuated. No homes have been damaged in this fire. Nearly 400 personnel are fighting this fire. Officials say someone started the fire, but no further details are available at this time.

June 19, 2012

History has never been my favorite subject; however, there is something about the University of Denver’s history that I find extremely compelling. DU is the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region. While I am familiar with some events that have impacted the University, I continue to discover remarkable stories about DU.

During DU’s early years, the school was located in downtown Denver. DU moved from downtown in order to get away from the saloons and to have an opportunity for expansion. When the move was made to University Park in the 1890s, there were more coyotes and jackrabbits in the area than people.

The Daniels College of Business is the 8th oldest business school in the country. Since its inception, the business school has been focused on business ethics. John Geijsbeck, the school’s first dean and founder mentioned the importance of maintaining a “high and ethical standard.” Aligned with the vision of its founder, The Daniels College of Business continues to focus on ethics.

Condoleezza Rice is arguably DU’s most famous alumna, but another African-American woman made her mark at DU many years before Rice arrived to campus. Emma Azalia Hackley graduated from DU in 1900. She is credited as DU’s first African-American graduate. With a DU degree in music, Hackley was a newspaper columnist, the founder of a music publishing company and the founder of a school for underprivileged youth.

In addition to participating in historical events, DU students have also been involved in prank wars. The prank wars often involved other colleges within the state of Colorado. Prank wars with rival colleges included cows being placed inside University Hall, a male student being shipped in a coffin to the women’s dormitory and dynamite explosions that blew out several windows on campus.

You can use a lot of words to describe DU such as: breathtaking, inspiring, friendly and intellectually stimulating.

However, the word uneventful should never be mentioned in the same sentence as DU!

June 15, 2012

Our University Chaplain, Gary Brower, distributes a wonderful e-newsletter once a week to the DU community. It always includes a (very well-written) blog entry on his musing of the week. We thought this past week's post was especially timely!

Stuff and Goodsense

Shoes. Top Ramen. Notebooks. Cell phones.

Over the last few days of this week, students were moving out of the residential halls at the University of Denver. A couple of years ago, the Sustainability Action Team in Student Life decided that we would collect a lot of the "throw-aways" that are part of move-out, and team up with local charities to put these "discards" to good use. The photo above is the collection after a few days in just one of the halls.

Pillows. Plates. Textbooks. Laundry detergent.

The variety and sheer bulk was astonishing. Big things, like bookcases. Unopened packages of AA batteries. An incredible variety of garments that memorialize some memorable (albeit annual) event. Greeting cards with "Love you always! XOXOXO! Bruno". On the one hand, those of us who were sorting the stuff ("Clothes for Goodwill over here. Toiletries, here. Cleaning supplies, here. Food, here.") were in awe of (what we saw) as "waste". On the other, we were grateful that the students brought it all to the "donations" room, rather than taking it to the big blue dumpsters outside.

Flash drives. Hats. Desk lamps. An over-sized martini glass.

But we were engaged in a good thing. The shelter report was that we ended up collecting 2,000 pounds of food alone! We don't have the final weight of all of the other things that went to Goodwill or various shelters. And, of course, the charities were ecstatic to receive all of this stuff. And the message came home clearly to me -- especially at this Commencement time -- "we who have received so much have so much to give". A different message might be: "We have too much stuff!" And thatis true. But those of us who have . . . well what DO we have? Stuff? Intelligence? Training? Skills? The gift of encouragement? Material means? Excess sweaters or socks? Those of us whohave have the opportunity to use that abundance to better the world. How much can WE give out of our abundance?

June 13, 2012

Another school year has come and gone. The bells on campus rung with pride as another class received their diplomas. Joy and sadness mix as the campus becomes quiet once more. While the Admission Office will be open all summer long, evaluating credit, welcoming visitors, and preparing for fall, we can't help but recall the days of summer when there was a large break in the daily routine of class work . Of course we do get some vacation time here in the office, and as my week off approaches, I couldn't help but tap into my inner whimsical self, excited for summer break (no matter how short).

Tis the beginning of summer

and my work here is done.

Time to get out, explore

and go have some fun!

The road, she is calling

The car, she is packed.

Driving or flying?

No matter, just act!

I look to the East

I look to the West

Oceans or mountains?

It's time for a quest!

Swimming and surfing

or hiking a trail

Escaping my workload

is the goal of this tale!

For summer is short

and the school year is long

There is no time to waste

so, so long, I am gone!

I hope everyone out there is able to take some time to enjoy a bit of summer this year. Of course, if your summer travels bring you to Denver, be sure to come by for a visit and spend some time with us!

June 05, 2012

By now most new students have received their 2012-13 financial aid award package. To receive the aid listed on your award letter, there are additional steps you must take. Because some funding is limited, we expect students to accept their financial aid awards by July 1, 2012. This is very important if you were offered a Perkins Loan or Work-Study award. We already have a significant waiting list and students that do not accept these awards by July 1st will have the award cancelled for the 2012-13 academic year.

So if you have not yet done so, complete the tasks listed below to ensure all of your financial aid awards will pay to your DU student account in the fall.

Accept Your Financial Aid via webCentral

You must accept, reduce or decline the financial aid offered to you through webCentral:

Payment Plans are another option to help manage the costs of a DU education. The Bursar’s Office at the University of Denver manages the DU Tuition Payment Plans. The University offers 3, 6, and 9 month payment plans for all undergraduate students. These payment plans help spread out the annual cost into smaller monthly amounts that may make it easier for students and families to pay the bill. There are no financing costs associated with the University of Denver Tuition Payment Plan, though there is an enrollment fee of $50 per payment plan.

For new students, the Bursar’s Office recommends that you wait until receipt of the Estimated Budget Letter before signing up. The Estimated Budget Letter will assist you in planning costs for the academic year.